Geo Target Location in your URL Structure

[MarshallThompson31]

Hello everyone at SEOMOZ     

I have a question if you would be as kind as to inform me of which direction that I should take on this matter would be the more desirable approach for my seo strategy

I have been using my location in my URL structure since I started doing SEO 5 years ago and I have always benefited from including my city in the URL.

My question is, since the SEO landscape has change so drastically over the past 2 years and the Search Engines have become much more end user friendly and list suggestions for users as they type would it be more beneficial in 2013 to have the "Keyword" before or after the Geo Targeted Location in the URL structure?

I own a computer repair business for the past 6 years now and I know that when i check to see where I am ranking for a particular keyword phrase such as "Computer Repair" GOOGLE detects my location and provides suggestions as I start typing out "Computer Repair" for the search query.

One of the suggestions is "Computer Repair Wilmington NC" so I am starting to wonder if placing the Geo Targeted City after the Keyword  would be the wiser choice instead of before it like a couple of years ago?

Working Example:

Here is a site that I am building out right now to re-brand my business.

Currently I have one of the Silo Category Slugs set as seen below using the Location before the Keyword

The First Example has the Geo Target Location before the Keyword and looks more natural to visitors on the site (at least to me) however I'm afraid that I may be shooting myself in the foot not placing the keyword before the Target Location? But if I do that, It does not read or flow fluently to the average looker so kinda confused and torn on how to deal with this>!

FIRST EXAMPLE: Location Before Keyword

Silo Parent Category  = "Computer Repair"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/**wilmington-nc**-computer-repair/

Silo Child Category  =  "Laptop"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/wilmington-nc-computer-repair/**laptop-repair**/

Silo Grand Child Category  =  "LCD Replacement"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/wilmington-nc-computer-repair/**laptop**/lcd-screen-replacement/

**SECOND EXAMPLE: ** Keyword Before Location

Silo Parent Category  = "Computer Repair"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-**wilmington-nc**/

Silo Child Category  =  "Laptop"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-**wilmington-nc**/laptop-repair/

Silo Grand Child Category  =  "LCD Replacement"

http://www.pcmedicsoncall.com/computer-repair-**wilmington-nc**/laptop-repair/lcd-screen-replacement/

Which would be the more favorable of the 2 examples that I have given please?

Keyword before or After the Geo Targeted Location?

thank you

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Ralph,

Excellent question and one frequently wondered over. The trouble is that Google's Adwords Keyword Tool typically shows identical search volumes for keyword+city and city+keyword. I recommend you check out this enormous post on this topic by Linda Buquet:

http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/local-seo-ranking/849-local-keyword-research-tools-tricks.html

While I don't believe their is a simple, single answer for every case, I hope this resource will give you some new ideas on this!